Emerald Repatriation Society: Family Loyalty (Pt9)
11 Oct 2023Vasil Vasilescu
(<--Part 8)I was starting to ease the Alpina into an equatorial orbit over Capitol in Achenar when the bridge doors sighed open and closed in that quiet, elegant way that all interior portals on an Imperial Cutter operated. I did not bother seeing who it was; there was only one other person on board who had unescorted bridge access. Octavia was coming to either complain about something or was escorting the prospective high-value donors so they could take in the view of Capitol from the command deck.
Alone, Octavia sat in the copilot chair to my left. She leaned back, letting the seat conform to her back and shoulders. Lacing her fingers on her lap, she gazed at Capitol as the Aplina rolled into orbit. Tiny Ngadandari fire opals woven into a brocade on her blue silk bliaut glimmered in the bridge’s blue ambient lighting. A modern version of a heroine in a Waterhouse painting sat beside me, regal and contemplative.
Octavia said nothing. Her silence could be unnerving, particularly if a person was the target of her displeasure or her critical gaze. But this was a rare moment when she looked alone and vulnerable.
Once I’d stabilized our orbit, I turned down the volume on the open flight channels. ”There is something on your mind,” I said, and disabled the bridge’s voice logging. “Anything to do with the passengers?”
“That bright spot, there, on the night side of the planet,” she said, “The one like a huge starburst. Is that Capitol, where the Senate and Imperial Palace is?"
“It is.”
“Hmm. Beneath the Imperial Palace, Armand Vasilescu, killed in the Battle of Achenar, has a pillar in the Hall of Martyrs. Our family helped lay the foundation of the Empire. We have been Admirals and Senators and Governors. We have fought, bled and died for the Empire. We remained loyal, even when the political winds turned against us and we fell out of the favor. Why, then, must I contend with disloyalty from within my own family?” Octavia looked to me. “What am I to do with Elena?”
“You don’t know for certain it was Elena that leaked the Hixkaramu information.”
“Oh, please, Vasil, don’t be so naïve’. You know she is the only one who opposed our getting involved. The only thing that has lessened the impact is the statement Stefan released.”
“He did not release it. I did. I gave the statement to him for approval, but he was indisposed at the time and did nothing with it. I waited three days before ordering the PR people release it.”
“Indisposed? Phah!” Octavia waved a dismissive hand my way. “Don’t be so polite. It is no secret Stefan is a degenerate hedonist. Frankly, I am surprised his whoremongering has not yet caused us problems. Thank you for saving what could have been a very public disaster.”
“The statement is mostly true, and more importantly, it can be verified. The fact is, we did buy food and medicine to give the Tribeb’s, but at severely depressed market values. If the Tribebs turned around and sold those goods at higher prices to pay mercenaries, there is nothing we can do about that. The 200 million in humanitarian aid probably translated to 350 million once the Tribebs resold it."
Octavia shifted in the seat to face me more directly. “So, if anyone follows the money, the Tribeb’s are the villains for selling donated medicine to pay for a war.” Octavia smirked. “I am impressed. Are you sure you are not a politician, Vasil?”
“Hardly. You told me to spend the money as I saw fit. I thought it best to not directly fund any hostilities. However, I agree with Elena, but for fiscal rather than moral reasons. I understand why you thought helping Tribeb win was the best way to elevate your and the family’s prestige, but we had no business getting involved and wasting all of that money.”
“Then why did you do what I asked?
“Because you are the Lider Familie and it is what you wanted.”
“Imagine that. Undependable Stefan and now disloyal Elena. Who would have thought that you, the one sibling who spent 30 years having nothing to do with the family, would be the only one I could trust.” Octavia stood and sighed “I should get back to our guests,” she said. Then, gone was the quiet, vulnerable demeanor she had carried onto the bridge, replaced by her usual rigid authority, directing, not asking me to, “Give some thought to how you think we should deal with Elena.”
Octavia left the bridge and left me feeling uneasy. I did not want to deal with Elena, especially not in the way Octavia’s tone implied.
(Part10-->)